Ark. Code Ann. § 22-5-501: Authority to acquire

(a) The Arkansas Forestry Commission is authorized and empowered to acquire and hold in the name of the State of Arkansas title to lands which the commission determines, because of location, topographical, geological, and physical characteristics, are chiefly valuable for the production of forest crops, watershed protection, erosion and flood control, forestation, reforestation, and recreation.

(b) Lands, when so acquired, shall be appropriately named, designated, administered, protected, and developed as state forests.